Artist - An artist of Maningrida's clan, in Arnhem Land

In Alice Springs, the heart of the
Australian outback, searching for authentic Aboriginal art

For a full immersion in native Australian culture it is crucial
to venture into the heart of the continent, and get to Alice
Springs. Traditionally a sacred place for the Aboriginal
communities, today it is the unofficial capital of their art.
"Aboriginal art may be divided into two categories", explains art
expert Bryce Ponsford, adviser to Gallery Gondwana, one of the best
rated art galleries: "Strictly decorative art, that captures the
inexperienced eye, and collector art, whose quality is assessed
according to the area of origin and the artist's age". Papunya Tula Artists is an
exhibition space belonging to the natives of the Papunya community,
Central Australia, whereas the Mbantua
Gallery and Cultural Museum is the
largest private Aboriginal art gallery in the country, specializing
in artwork coming from Utopia and Arnhem Land communities. Emily
Kame Kngwarreye, one of the artists represented, who passed
away in 1996, was nicknamed "the Desert Monet"; the Many
Hands Art Centre, finally, gives visitors a chance to
watch artists from the Arrernte community as they paint
watercolours on the spot.